DevonDiver
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Article: The Anatomy of an Effective Wreck Diving Course
- Thread starter DevonDiver
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medeng8
Contributor
Very good article! I see people penetrate wrecks/caverns without training. Some people just wont listen to reason.
diverrex
Contributor
Very clear and well written with excellent paoints. I've never understood the rational of giving out a Wreck Diver Cert to someone who has only swam around the outside of a wreck.
Green_Manelishi
Contributor
I am perfectly happy to swim around outside but am aware of the fact the exterior holds its own (potential) hazards such as nets, line, rope.
Dive Bug Bit Me
Contributor
Andy, I always enjoy your posts and this was no exception. Thanks.
You talk about the difference between caves and wrecks. I did an advanced wreck course in the great lakes before I saw my first cavern. My experience was that technical wreck penetration involves tighter spaces, narrower doors, more closely packed obstacles than your training caves like Peacock. Hence I kicked up more silt on one wreck training dive than all of my Intro Cave dives combined. I also find that makes cave line placement a lot easier. Long and short of it, the environments and hazards can be more different than many realize. Wrecks are unlikely to offer 1000 ft penetrations, but they will offer more of an obstacle course, particularly in the dark.
Yesterday, my LDS was running a recreational wreck course. Students did dives one and two. For me this was an opportunity to book a boat trip with guaranteed wrecks. Sad, but after the completion of the day's diving two students asked me why I use double tanks, and why I have a tank labelled Oxygen that I use. They also had what I would call yoyo buoyancy skills. They are doing penetration dives today and I am certain that there is silt and algae in their future. I bring this up because I still think they benefitted from the course. The two students themselves brought up on the boat afterwards that they now know why penetration isn't for them. To me that is a win for the course.
You talk about the difference between caves and wrecks. I did an advanced wreck course in the great lakes before I saw my first cavern. My experience was that technical wreck penetration involves tighter spaces, narrower doors, more closely packed obstacles than your training caves like Peacock. Hence I kicked up more silt on one wreck training dive than all of my Intro Cave dives combined. I also find that makes cave line placement a lot easier. Long and short of it, the environments and hazards can be more different than many realize. Wrecks are unlikely to offer 1000 ft penetrations, but they will offer more of an obstacle course, particularly in the dark.
Yesterday, my LDS was running a recreational wreck course. Students did dives one and two. For me this was an opportunity to book a boat trip with guaranteed wrecks. Sad, but after the completion of the day's diving two students asked me why I use double tanks, and why I have a tank labelled Oxygen that I use. They also had what I would call yoyo buoyancy skills. They are doing penetration dives today and I am certain that there is silt and algae in their future. I bring this up because I still think they benefitted from the course. The two students themselves brought up on the boat afterwards that they now know why penetration isn't for them. To me that is a win for the course.
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